Word Origin & History

surround 1423, "to flood, overflow," from M.Fr. soronder "to overflow, abound, surpass, dominate," from L.L. superundare "overflow," from L. super "over" (see super-) + undare "to flow in waves," from unda "wave" (see water; and cf. abound). Sense of "to shut in on all sides" first recorded 1616, influenced by figurative meaning in Fr. of "dominate," and by sound association with round. First record of surroundings in sense of "environment" is from 1861.

Example Sentences for surrounding

Not being sure of his bearings, he mounted the taller of the hills to get a view of the surrounding country.

For what do the troops that occupy our city and the surrounding villages represent?

A heavy pall of smoke still hung over the camp and all the surrounding country.

From its top he could look down the lake and over the surrounding forest.

The top, as you know, rises to the general level of the surrounding country, the river having eaten out so much.

Seven pairs have already been collected from the surrounding ditches.

The province of Drente is a sandy plateau forming the kernel of the surrounding provinces.

To her, he was all that the people of the surrounding villages were not.

From the forts and redoubts crowning every surrounding hill issued the thunder.